Here's a comment someone made on reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/901i7/please_tel...

In programming, this would be an example of bad design.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_concerns

In combining the key and ring into one object you make it so that the key+ring doesn't act the same as another key. You can't remove the key+ring or you leave the other keys without a ring. You have to make sure you have a single key+ring (unless you want to make them into a chain), if you get rid of one key+ring you have to convert one of your other keys into a key+ring to take its place.

Sure, but that assumes that all keys are equal. Mine aren't. If I could find my house key more easily because it was the ring itself, I'd be happy.

You can surely find a simpler solution to the problem of "find my house key more easily"!

That's exactly what I thought: I want my keyring to work with _any_ keys. Further, this key makes the entire key-keychain apparatus uncomfortable. It holds fewer keys and they are likely to hang at an awkward angle.

the key should be rotated 90 degrees to fit in with the keys i put on the ring.

That makes some sense. The key would fit more comfortably on the ring, but it would also probably make the construction even weaker and more likely to break off in a lock. I'm not sure which is better.

It would also prevent it from fitting into the normal key machining tools, meaning that you couldn't just take a blank to a locksmith and ask them to make you a copy of the key.

This doesn't work because there's nowhere to grip when you're trying to turn the key.

A perfect example of a solution in search of a problem.

Considering the number of keys I've bent which didn't have big gaping holes there, I suspect this would need to be hardened to work right, which would make grinding obnoxious.

Still, not an inherently terrible idea.

the only catch is that hardening has a tendency to make materials brittle. Steel is good because it bends.

Do one thing well. What happens when I break the ring? I have to get a new key. Also, a keyring of keyrings is going to be quite a pocketfull.

I don't think I've ever broken a keyring. I've replaced the ones I've had due to it being too small, or I've lost my keys, but I've never broken one yet.

I guess you are more gentlemanly with your keyrings than I am.

On the upside, it may be easier to add keys to the ring, since you can grip it by the fixed key while you're forcing the new key through the tracks.

On the downside, how do you remove a key from the ring without the other keys getting in the way? Wouldn't the fixed key get in the way of being able to slide other keys aside?

Is there a topologist in the house?

What's new about this? This is how keys used to be (just google image search "old key").

The reason for the flat surface on current keys is so you can hold it steady while turning. A flat surface is ideal for this, a keyring, not so much.

Those "old keys" may have had rings on the end, but they weren't key rings!

I think it's brilliant. The concerns raised here are valid, perhaps only half of it is open and the front half would be solid to give it more strength and support, but as it stands now I think it's a brilliant idea.

Here you go. You can keep the patent. :)

http://imgur.com/nvohH.jpg